Masters, veterans... Getting old

My dear friends,

Greetings!

I feel I am finally getting old. I am now the only heavyweight above 36 years of age in my Judo Club, and next month I am going to be in the masters age group of a competition for the first time. I have not competed in major tournaments like this (state level) for about six years. Actually, in the last six years, due to studies and work obligations, my Judo training has been very irregular (unfortunately, because I like Judo very much).

I am still a 2nd kyu, and I have not been promoted since December 2006. I know I am going to fight many experienced judokas, most of them yudansha. However, for what I have seen in other competitions, I also guess that many of them are in bad shape.

So, I suppose I have to focus on my aerobic conditioning rather than any other aspect of training, since I cannot match them in technical skills. What do you think? Am I wrong? I would appreciate any advice.

Thank you very much!

It is as you say. Go at it hard and try to be fitter and you should do well. A lot of the masters are not ex champions and are, shall we say "journeyman" judoka.

Try to look past the rank/belt of the competitors and simply try to do your best. The results will look after themselves.

You should not expect to go in and win everything, however your attitude should be to go enjoy the shiai and learn.

Have fun and good luck!

Masters is about enjoying the day for me. Everybody in that division knows we all have to go to work on Monday, so it tends to be nice clean judo without a win at any cost attitude. Have fun!

Neil G wrote:Masters is about enjoying the day for me.  Everybody in that division knows we all have to go to work on Monday, so it tends to be nice clean judo without a win at any cost attitude.  Have fun!

here, here!

btw, the M1 group you're going to belong to will consist of people your general size, your general age, who play judo and want to compete without killing each others. So, you may find yourself up against any level of judoka, from somebody who started 6 months ago to somebody who's been at it for 30 years.

Respect your opponent. Go for clean technique. Take your falls. Tell some tall tales over a few pints afterwards. You'll meet some pretty cool people. And then there's me...... 

I agree with the other posters. Don't pressure yourself as if you were a senior competitor. Masters tournaments are also competitive in nature but the right state of mind is that you are there to have fun. There is nothing at stake, other than a weekend full of challenge and adventure. If you have not trained much, then, before the competition, try to do cardio training and lots of stretching. Another important part of going to a masters competition is to look for some masters colleagues after the competition and go out for some beers.

Dear friends,

Thanks!

So, that's what I am gonig to do: have fun, meet people and enjoy the day.

Let's leave the duty of gold medals to the kids! 

Thank you all for the nice advices! 

Stacey and Davaro, the tournament is in the 30th november. So, would it be necro-posting if I come back to this thread after the event to tell you all about it?

Tranquilo wrote:
Stacey and Davaro, the tournament is in the 30th november. So, would it be necro-posting if I come back to this thread after the event to tell you all about it?

Hahahaha good one:cheers: 

Nope... as the original poster you have all the rights to it.

It would be necroposting if some idiot, in October 2015, makes a comment saying you should "just go enjoy the comp and try not to take it seriously" or something like that...

No such thing as "OLD" in Masters/Veterans Tournaments..............
go and have fun just like I did in Geelong.

and remember...............What happens on tour...STAYS ON TOUR !!   

Steve Leadbeater wrote:No such thing as "OLD" in Masters/Veterans Tournaments..............
go and have fun just like I did in Geelong.

and remember...............What happens on tour...STAYS ON TOUR !!     

Hehehe! Thanks, Steve! 
I'll remember this...

At what age do you qualify for masters level?

when you need to buy a new black belt because the old is too short  

Tai-Jutsu wrote:At what age do you qualify for masters level?

Here we compete at masters level when we are older than 35. Then there are groups for each five years of age above 35: 35-39; 40-44; 44-49; and so on...

finarashi wrote:when you need to buy a new black belt because the old is too short  

Thank you.

Current age categories for Masters/Veterans under IJF rules are.....
M1 = 30 - 34 years.
M2 = 35 - 39 years.
M3 = 40 - 44 years.
M4 = 45 - 49 years.
M5 = 50 - 54 years.
M6 = 55 - 59 years.
M7 = 60 - 64 years.
M8 = 65 - 69 years.
M9 = Over 70 years.

Substitute "W" for Women Judoka.
Also, in each Age category there are ALL of the standard WEIGHT Divisions.

Tranquilo wrote:
I am still a 2nd kyu, and I have not been promoted since December 2006. I know I am going to fight many experienced judokas, most of them yudansha. However, for what I have seen in other competitions, I also guess that many of them are in bad shape.

I would not under estimate your opponents just because they don't have ripped abs. Remember skill can come out of any package at any age.

As other have said, everyone works on Monday morning so don't injure yourself or your opponent. Use any of your strength/cardio advantage to allow you to focus on fundamentals and great judo rather than being the biggest gorilla. Oh yes, the good news is that your opponents are no longer Testosterone crazies trying to impress their dates by embedding your head in the mat.

Steve Leadbeater wrote:Current age categories for Masters/Veterans under IJF rules are.....

Practically this doesn't happen, at least not where I compete. There is usually just one Masters division for everyone over 35, if there's anything at all. The weight classes for men are reduced to -70, -90 and +90, or sometimes just "light" and "heavy" with the division according to the entrants and the organizers' best judgement.

At the Edmonton International there are enough Masters to warrant the 5 year age brackets, although some of them end up getting combined. They still do limited weight divisions though.

I'm fighting in M3 in November, and the weekend after that I'm fighting -73 seniors in another tournament. I'm treating them the same in my head. Go out there and play better chess than the other guy. Old guys like countering, so set it up right. The pressure is less than fighting senior I find, because the other guy is likely just as happy just being on the mat as you! As 1 kyu I fought a 4th dan in my first masters tournament. His judo was so smooth and powerful. You'll learn lots and make friends. By day I'm a bureaucrat and professor, and as others have said, chances are in M2 you'll fight someone with a "day job," so they won't be trying to kill you to make national team. Those days are gone for me, so I just go out there and enjoy the feeling of being alive, healthy and able to enjoy a good fight and make some friends out there. Oh, and be a role model for life-long sport for my kids!

Due to the "not enough people-mix them up a bit" rule.........I fought a bloke recently in the Australian Masters Games "Heavyweight" ( O/110kgs ) division who was about 20 years Younger and 15 Kilos Lighter than me,......... he forgot the "GOLDEN RULE OF JUDO"

Age and Experience beats Youth and Exuberance....... EVERYTIME  

or

Old age and Dirty tricks always beats Youth and Stamina !!

Steve Leadbeater wrote:Age and Experience beats Youth and Exuberance....... EVERYTIME    

                                  or

Old age and Dirty tricks always beats Youth and Stamina    !!

It sounds so much more poetic when you express it as "age and experience" ...

I've always heard it as "old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance".

Neil G wrote:I've always heard it as "old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance".

I was trying to maintain a level of decorum suitable for Veterans/Masters !!

Old age helps my judo the way drinking helps an alcoholic. I've got to do it, but it doesn't make me better. I feel lucky if I can just keep my skills from deteriorating too fast.

Oh don't worry JS, theres NOTHING wrong with my drinking skills..........